Updated: 4 November 2026

Ask for a job referral

This prompt writes a message asking a contact for a referral. You give how you know them, the job and three reasons you fit, and it includes a two-line summary they can forward and says you understand if they cannot.

text-referral-request — chatgpt — 55 words

Write a message asking [NAME] for a referral.

How I know them: [RELATIONSHIP]
Job: [TITLE AND LINK] at [COMPANY]
Why I am a good fit: [3 POINTS]

Make it easy for them: include a 2-line summary they can forward, say I understand if they cannot, and attach my resume. Friendly, low pressure, under 120 words.

Edit in the builder Copy & open ChatGPT ↗Copy & open Gemini ↗Copy & open Claude ↗

Give them everything they need in the first message so they can act in two minutes.

Get a better result

What you will get

A friendly message of under 120 words that reminds them how you know each other, names the job with its link, gives a two-line summary they can forward, and makes it easy to say no.

Why it works

A referral costs the other person time and a little reputation, so the prompt is built to reduce both. The forwardable summary does the work for them, the “I understand if you cannot” line removes pressure, and the length limit respects their time. Including the job link and your three fit points means they never have to come back with questions.

Common mistake

The forwardable summary is about you, not the role.

Fix: It should say why you fit this job in two lines, with one result. Ask for it to be written so they can paste it straight into an internal referral form.

Also watch for

The message is too long to act on quickly. Keep the relationship line to one sentence. The tip’s goal is that they can act in two minutes.
You ask someone you barely know as if you were close. Be honest in “How I know them”. If it was one meeting, the message should say so and ask for a short chat before a referral.

Try a variation: ask for advice first

For a weak connection, change the ask to a 15 minute chat about the team, and keep the referral question for after that conversation.

Still not right? Reply with this

Rewrite the two-line summary so it names the role, my most relevant result and one skill from the job post, ready to paste into a referral form.